Someone told me this is the beginning of my chicken-addiction when I got my four feathered ladies a couple of months ago. I was adamant I would only have 4. Last week I acquired two more. And now want quail. I reckon she was right.

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I hatched and raised some cortunix quail and they were lovely little birds and laid the most delicious eggs. Unfortunatly one of my dogs did not like them and got one killed it and death rolled it on the lawn. I think it was because they smelt more like game than chicken.

Glad to hear you had a lovely time yesterday. Great that Ernie behaved and was not on the Saturday mood!! They can be weird can't they at things they have seen a thousand times. Harry does it occasionally at stuff depends what kind if a day he is having. Generally is good in traffic and we have a lot of farm traffic in the village but nothing really phases him. As long as you keep him going he's good. Not keen on standing still to let stuff past. I think the biggest thing we have had past us is a sugar beet harvester. Was great didn't muff but that can't be said of the others we had with us.
I can just imagine the elderly couples faces, I'm sure they have the best intentions slowing down but then are too busy watching to see how close they are. I've had a few horror faces when I've been traffic side and Harry has been bumped a bit by the other horse. No way would he jump in front but there faces when they think he might brake brake brake!!

You have got horse math trouble!! Have loved reading how you acquired them all. I will take heed of this advice.
Chickens and hooves as you say don't mix. Glad it was only a toe and as you say if you can't catch her it really can't be that bad. Down at the farm there are just geese and guineas roaming the chickens are locked up. The roamers tend to stay out of the way but boy those guineas are loud.

Thanks for your reply, Barbara. I went off-radar for a while what with poorly children, missing cats, crazy work-schedule etc.
But in the meantime.... I hatched my first batch of chicks! I went for 4 lavender pekin eggs, and 2 each of bantam silver-lavender and blue-salmon orpingtons. One of the blue-salmon orpington eggs was clear, but the other hatched, both silver lavenders hatched (though I had to help one out of the egg, and they both look very different), but I only got one pekin out of the four. What with having to midwife 'Smokey' out of the shell, and clean up 'Bruce's' pasty butt last night, it's all been rather dramatic! But my children are absolutely loving it; the first thing my 4 year old daughter says when she gets home from school is 'Can I cuddle the chicks?' I'll try to get some photos up later...